A DECISION to offer Sefton Council chief executive Graham Haywood redundancy or early retirement went against the authority’s constitution, a report has found.

The independent QC report found that four out of seven decisions made behind closed doors at a meeting last month will now have to be rescinded, although the exact details of that meeting – and the QC report – remain confidential.

He told the Midweek Visiter: “My group was concerned that the procedures we used for the full council were not correct. An employment procedure committee hadn’t been used, and it should have been.

“Of the seven decisions the council took that evening, four of them were found to be unconstitutional, although three of them were OK.”

The aim of the meeting was to find ways to reduce council spending.

Liberal Democrats put forward a scheme which would have saved around £600,000 by removing eight council management posts.

The Conservatives and the Labour group combined their voting power to save £300,000 in the next tax year by deleting five managerial positions.

Cllr Robertson also made clear he did not believe removing the chief executive post at this time was a good idea.

Cllr Peter Dowd, Labour’s deputy leader, said: “We made the decision in good faith on the available advice that was given at the time.”

Conservative leader Paula Parry said: “This is just a tidying up procedure, it’s just a procedural item.”

In the meantime, John Pugh MP has called for greater transparency on future council debate.

Southport’s Commons representative said: “Sefton should publish the legal advice it has received.

“All further details should be debated in public, not dealt with in the secret, hole-in-the corner way the original decision was, so that the council taxpayers can see how, and on what, their money is being spent.

“I am planning on meeting with the district auditor on this issue.”

Mr Haywood’s redundancy or retirement offer has now been withdrawn until the New Year at the earliest.

The meeting to rescind the four non-constitutional decisions is on November 29.